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== Entrepreneurship Centers<br/> ==
== Courses<br/> ==
<u>Campus Innovation Contest</u>: Sponsored by the University of Minnesota Co-Lab idea incubator, these contests are an opportunity to source student input and ideas to solve pressing issues at the University. The contest started in the Spring of 2014. Security had been a growing issue at the University. The original contest revolved around reducing crime on campus. Leveraging an idea submission and voting platform, students published their ideas. The most highly regarded solutions presented at a showcase in front of University officials. Winners received prize money and all finalists received services from Co-Lab. Such contests are planned to continue one during each semester. For the fall of 2014, the contest is championing Operation Excellence to help the school make its processes more efficient and save money.
<u>Minnesota Cup</u>: This is Minnesota's largest and most prestigious business plan contest. Over the last 10 years, the Cup has given away more that $1,000,000 to dozens of businesses. In 2014 alone, more than 1,200 applicants competed in 7 catagories, including catagories for social and student ventures. While not exclusively a University function, the Carlson School of Management was one of the founding sponsors and continues to offer its services and resources to applicants. Interestingly enough, 37% of all applicants had an University of Minnesota affiliation. Since it's founding, Cup finalists have went on to raise more than $160 million in capital and a handful have been acquired.
<u>Hackathon</u>: The University of Minnesota has a thriving Computer Science and Computer Engineering community, and with that come student, as well as faculty and 3rd party, organized hackathons. These events take place most commonly over the weekends in the winter months, and focus on bringing an innovative or entrepreneurial atmosphere to a very technical study. Participants are presented with a real-world problem that can be solved through unique software developements. One such example is the University's 'Visualizing Neighborhoods' hackathon through the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs. The 'hackers' worked on developing software that would more effectively monitor and optimize urban bus routes for inner-city primary and secondary schools. The resulting software was implemented and is in use in Minneapolis today.
<u>Co-Lab</u>: A student-led idea incubator founded last year through the Entrepreneurship Program's ''Enrepreneurship In Action'' capstone. Co-Lab has a dedicated staff of student Fellows who provide services ranging from website design, to graphics, to strategy, and accounting. In addition to helping students develop, start, and scale projects/businesses, Co-Lab sponsors numerous events, such as the Launch Pad and the Campus Innovation Contests, to promote innovative thinking amongst students.
== Student Group<br/> ==
<u style="font-size: 12px;">Entrepreneurship Club:</u> Run by students for students, this program brings in two successful entrepreneurs each week to discuss their venture(s), the obstacles they've faced, and the strategies they've used to overcome them. Attendees range from students with a preliminary interest in starting thier own business to those in higher level innovation courses looking to learn more about best practices and get inspired. Each year culminates in a CEO Dinner, where club members and a variety of community figures come together to hear the store of one high caliber speaker at a professional banquet. Past speakers have included Steve Schussler, the founder of Rainforest Cafe.